Spring Visitor Center Hours
Weekdays from 8:00 am-4:30 pm
Weekends 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Featured photo: “Eastern Bluebird” by David John Sorenson
Spring weather has been nice overall in the past week, with a couple days of MUCH needed rain! Weather in the extended forecast looking to be getting even warmer, into the 70’s and close to the 80’s some days.
Migration is in full swing, with some waterfowl still around (in smaller numbers, but still a good variety), and now many of our marsh birds, sparrows, early warblers, and more showing up. The bird list has grown to 113 species this week!
On April 29th and 30th there have been multiple sightings of a rare bird for our area- the White-faced Ibis! There were two individuals sighted at Grettum, on the east side of the flowage.
This time of the year, there are a few of our roads that can be very muddy and not great for travel. They have been in decent condition this week, but if we get a lot of rain that can change quickly. It is always good to check in with staff at the Visitor Center before your visit.
Springtime also means that it is prescribed burning season. While you are visiting Crex Meadows, Fish Lake, and Amsterdam Sloughs Wildlife Areas, you may notice smoke in the air. These fires are controlled with fire staff monitoring them the entire time until they are completely out.
Another highlight this time of the year is seeing the Sharp-tailed Grouse participating in their spring mating dances. These birds occupy barrens habitats and use open areas within barrens areas for breeding (called “leks”). These locations are great places to stop and listen if you find yourself out on Crex Meadows early in the morning- you might hear dancing sharp-tails; and if you’re lucky, you may just get to see some! The breeding season will be coming to a close shortly, so you may want to make a trip soon!
Recent highlights include American Black Duck, Bonaparte’s Gull, Cackling Goose, Eastern Towhee, Hermit Thrush, Horned Grebe, Merlin, Osprey, Palm Warbler, Peregrine Falcon, Redhead, Red-necked Grebe, Ruddy Duck, Solitary Sandpiper, Sora, Veery, and White-faced Ibis (a rare bird for this area!).
Mammals seen in the area within the last week:
| 13-Lined Ground Squirrel | Grey Squirrel | Red Squirrel |
| Beaver | Muskrat | River Otter |
| Black Bear | Porcupine | Striped Skunk |
| Cottontail Rabbit | Raccoon | White-tailed Deer |
Bird sightings within the last week on Crex Meadows, Fish Lake, Amsterdam Sloughs, and surrounding area:
| American Bittern | Eastern Towhee | Red-bellied Woodpecker |
| American Black Duck | Eastern Whip-poor-will | Red-breasted Nuthatch |
| American Coot | European Starling | Redhead |
| American Crow | Field Sparrow | Red-headed Woodpecker |
| American Goldfinch | Gadwall | Red-necked Grebe |
| American Kestrel | Great Blue Heron | Red-tailed Hawk |
| American Robin | Great Egret | Red-winged Blackbird |
| American Tree Sparrow | Greater Scaup | Ring-billed Gull |
| American Wigeon | Greater Scaup | Ring-necked Duck |
| American Woodcock | Greater White-fronted Goose | Ring-necked Pheasant |
| Bald Eagle | Greater Yellowlegs | Rock Pigeon |
| Barred Owl | Green-winged Teal | Ruby-crowned Kinglet |
| Belted Kingfisher | Hairy Woodpecker | Ruddy Duck |
| Black-capped Chickadee | Hermit Thrush | Ruffed Grouse |
| Blue Jay | Hooded Merganser | Rusty Blackbird |
| Blue-winged Teal | Horned Grebe | Sandhill Crane |
| Bonaparte’s Gull | House Finch | Savannah Sparrow |
| Broad-winged Hawk | House Sparrow | Sharp-shinned Hawk |
| Brown Creeper | Killdeer | Sharp-tailed Grouse |
| Brown Thrasher | Lesser Scaup | Snow Bunting |
| Brown-headed Cowbird | Lesser Yellowlegs | Solitary Sandpiper |
| Bufflehead | Mallard | Song Sparrow |
| Cackling Goose | Merlin | Sora |
| Canada Goose | Mourning Dove | Swamp Sparrow |
| Canvasback | Northern Flicker | Tree Swallow |
| Chipping Sparrow | Northern Harrier | Trumpeter Swan |
| Common Grackle | Northern Pintail | Turkey Vulture |
| Common Loon | Northern Rough-winged Swallow | Veery |
| Common Merganser | Northern Shoveler | Vesper Sparrow |
| Common Raven | Osprey | Western Meadowlark |
| Cooper’s Hawk | Palm Warbler | White-breasted Nuthatch |
| Dark-eyed Junco | Peregrine Falcon | White-faced Ibis |
| Double-crested Cormorant | Pied-billed Grebe | White-throated Sparrow |
| Downy Woodpecker | Pileated Woodpecker | Wild Turkey |
| Eastern Bluebird | Pine Warbler | Wilson’s Snipe |
| Eastern Meadowlark | Purple Finch | Wood Duck |
| Eastern Phoebe | Purple Martin | Yellow-bellied Sapsucker |
| Yellow-headed Blackbird |